Bridges to Life Program

CSDB’s Bridges to Life (BtL) program serves students between the ages of 18 and 21 who are Deaf/ Hard of Hearing or Blind/Visually Impaired, most of whom have met their graduation requirements. The BtL program supports them in bridging the gap between high school and the real world.

BtL serves students in three areas: employment, postsecondary education, and independent living skills.

For employment, BtL develops partnerships with businesses in the community to provide students with opportunities to learn appropriate job skills and to potentially earn a competitive job through work-study experiences and on-the-job training.

For postsecondary education, BtL provides direct instruction in English and Math skills in order to improve scores for college entrance exams. Transition teachers also support students as they register for classes, apply for financial assistance, obtain disability support services, and take a variety of post-secondary classes.

For independent living skills, BtL provides hands on
experiences both on and off-campus in searching, applying for and keeping housing; building relationships; budgeting money; purchasing and preparing food; time management; and utilizing free time.